NBN Co has extended technical trials of a new platform meant to transform the way key business transactions with its retail service providers are processed.
Trials of the first NBN Platform Interfacing Services (NPIS) APIs have been underway since November last year, and are now expected to run through to September this year.
The company listed about a dozen deliverables in relation to the NPIS transformation between now and Q1 next year in its most recent product roadmap, pointing to the wide reach of the program.
To date, the interconnection point between NBN Co and an RSP’s systems has been a traditional B2B gateway setup, in place since early in the network builder’s operations.
NPIS promises an “alternative to B2B access based on lightweight APIs”, NBN Co said in recent technical documentation.
APIs on the roadmap cover address lookups and service qualification, and the management of appointments, orders, outages, billing and trouble tickets.
An NBN Co spokesperson told iTnews that NPIS is being trialled “as a possible solution to help refine processes and systems interactions.”
“NBN Co is working with RSPs to enable them to better manage the customer experience when residential premises or businesses are migrating to, and using, the NBN access network,” the spokesperson said.
“[NPIS] is intended to provide retailers with accurate, up-to-date information to help them to better manage interactions with their customers. Specifically, it allows RSPs to gain access to information on activations, assurance and billing.”
NBN Co is hoping to finalise and progressively introduce the new APIs “after feedback is received and any modifications are incorporated following consultation with retailers.”
With the technical trial period now extended, RSPs - and therefore end users - are unlikely to experience changes in the sign-up process until the end of this year.
Once in place, it is hoped NPIS will make it easier for RSPs to integrate with NBN Co’s wholesale systems on an ongoing basis.
